Hatters to miss injured quartet again

Mike Simmonds

Hatters boss John Still doesn’t expect to have Paul Connolly, Alex Lawless, Jonathan Smith or Shaun Whalley fit for tomorrow night’s visit of Bury in League Two.

The quartet all missed Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to AFC Wimbledon and on their chances, Still said: “Connolly, I wouldn’t think tomorrow, but maybe Saturday.

“They’re all training, but not rushing. At the stage of the season where there’s no need to rush, I’ll give them time.”

Winger Luke Rooney is available though after missing out with a one game ban at the weekend as Still continued: “Absolutely, and he can knock as loud as he wants (for selection), but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Unfortunately for Town, with Lawless, Whalley and Connolly out, plus Rooney’s suspension, it left them with very few options on the right side during Saturday’s game.

Still said: “Alex Lawless and Shaun, who was very bright in pre-season, they’re people who can go past people and they’re players who are not easy to replace.

“We didn’t have Luke Rooney on Saturday, he can go past someone, that’s part of the jigsaw that wasn’t spot on on Saturday.

“The biggest problem has been on our right side. Curtley Williams we had on the bench Saturday in case of an emergency, but he’s not ready to play as he’s not played enough games.

“Paul Connolly and Alex Lawless can play on the right hand side, be it as a right back or a little bit higher up.

“Luke Rooney can play higher up on the right, so we didn’t have the luxury down our right hand side.

“People say you’ve got a strong squad, we have got a strong squad, but if they hit one area there’s not a lot you can do about it.”